Revoultion! Revolution! Revolution!
What was the old slogan from MTV--Rock & Roll Televised--well, here you have it, Revolution Televised!!!
The Republic of Georgia went through a peaceful revolution--change of powers--and every step of the way was televised--more so on BBC than CNN (the only two western--read English language--outlets I have access to). It was an exciting weekend in Armenia as well, because these changes will undoubtedly affect Armenia in profound ways. The mood in Armenia has been somewhat subdued vis-a-vis the events in Tbilisi, but people are talking about and analyzing these historic events. One can't help but think back and compare the situation in Georgia to that in Armenia just several months ago. I was in Georgia in July of this year for a brief period staying at a hotel just across the street from the parliament building where history was made this weekend. The situation in Georgia although at first glimpse comparable, in reality is different. Georgia's social problems--poverty in particular--are severe and unchanging. The state has paid a lot of lip service to these issues but hasn't done anything fundamentally. This all despite Georgia's incomparable access to markets and trade routes that Armenia lacks.
Having said all this, I'm still amazed that the Georgian opposition has acted quite maturely and resourcefully and persistently (something that by many accounts the Armenian opposition was not able to do). It is also interesting to note the chronology of events, particularly the arrival of Igor Ivanov from the Russian Federation. Anyhow, it is exciting times to see all of this happening and be witness to historical change like that.
What bugged me about the coverage in the US (just based on CNN-Interational and its nightly program Newsnight, which covers next day front page headlines of national papers), is that Michael Jackson's latest venture into the legal realm is grabbing more headlines and above fold articles than is this issue--one of great significance and importance to all countries in the world. Georgia, afterall, does lie in a major energy route.
Of note this weekend was the opening of the renovated Philharmonic Concet Hall, and the inaugural perfomance there of world-renowned Russian conductor and composer Yuri Bashmet. A world-class event, with a few less than perfect logistical moments (temperature, waiting etc.), but overall a wonderful evening. Lena, Madlena, Arthur and a new AVC volunteer from Boston, and I went together.
Cheers.
What was the old slogan from MTV--Rock & Roll Televised--well, here you have it, Revolution Televised!!!
The Republic of Georgia went through a peaceful revolution--change of powers--and every step of the way was televised--more so on BBC than CNN (the only two western--read English language--outlets I have access to). It was an exciting weekend in Armenia as well, because these changes will undoubtedly affect Armenia in profound ways. The mood in Armenia has been somewhat subdued vis-a-vis the events in Tbilisi, but people are talking about and analyzing these historic events. One can't help but think back and compare the situation in Georgia to that in Armenia just several months ago. I was in Georgia in July of this year for a brief period staying at a hotel just across the street from the parliament building where history was made this weekend. The situation in Georgia although at first glimpse comparable, in reality is different. Georgia's social problems--poverty in particular--are severe and unchanging. The state has paid a lot of lip service to these issues but hasn't done anything fundamentally. This all despite Georgia's incomparable access to markets and trade routes that Armenia lacks.
Having said all this, I'm still amazed that the Georgian opposition has acted quite maturely and resourcefully and persistently (something that by many accounts the Armenian opposition was not able to do). It is also interesting to note the chronology of events, particularly the arrival of Igor Ivanov from the Russian Federation. Anyhow, it is exciting times to see all of this happening and be witness to historical change like that.
What bugged me about the coverage in the US (just based on CNN-Interational and its nightly program Newsnight, which covers next day front page headlines of national papers), is that Michael Jackson's latest venture into the legal realm is grabbing more headlines and above fold articles than is this issue--one of great significance and importance to all countries in the world. Georgia, afterall, does lie in a major energy route.
Of note this weekend was the opening of the renovated Philharmonic Concet Hall, and the inaugural perfomance there of world-renowned Russian conductor and composer Yuri Bashmet. A world-class event, with a few less than perfect logistical moments (temperature, waiting etc.), but overall a wonderful evening. Lena, Madlena, Arthur and a new AVC volunteer from Boston, and I went together.
Cheers.
posted by Alex at 11:56 AM
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